We all have heard of one way or the other how to train your brain – whether it is completing a Sudoku every day, Mensa puzzles, the brain training game on the Nintendo DS, or simply learning a new skill. But these activities don’t always fit that well with a holiday lazing on the beach or by the pool.
How can you train your brain when relaxing on the beach?
Nevertheless, according to an article in the Daily Mail on the 25th April, the ability of the brain to cope with life’s stressful events, and respond to injuries, all relates to how we have treated our brain in the past. When we deplete our brain reserve – the extra neurons we have to deal with unexpected events – we become more vulnerable. Therefore, to keep our brain strong, we should be trying to train our brain as much as possible. And at the same time, we should try to avoid the activities that are known to deplete brain reserve. These include:
- Excessive alcohol
- Poor diet
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Excessive caffeine
- Lack of exercise
So all the usual suspects then. But a holiday can be an ideal opportunity to recharge your batteries and help your brain out! When you go on holiday, you might want to think about what other opportunities you can use to train your brain. Whether it is taking a puzzle book with you to do on the plane, or taking a language book with you rather than the normal paperback? Or visiting new places and learning new skills.
And what is the best thing you could do for your brain? Table tennis, apparently. This is because your hands, eyes and feet are all working together while you are thinking about the ball. It is aerobic chess. So when you see that abandoned table tennis table in the hotel grounds, or on board ship – why not give it a go?!
